What is the point of critical analysis?
The point of analysis is to uncover the rich complexity of a work, as well as its basic affirmation of life. Yet the ultimate goal is to raise the work in its critical esteem. This task is accomplished by pointing out the authors insights into problems of life, along with describing various aspects of his/her skill. Literary analysis aims at the appreciation of literary excellence. Therefore it is important for you to keep the literary analysis in perspective. Analyzing a work is a means toward appreciation and evaluation, not an end in itself. It is an honest attempt by you, the reader, to discover the truth about a work and base your appreciation on your own thought and discovery, not on a vaguely aesthetic reaction. What areas of the work can I analyze? Literary analysis is a way of getting at the heart of the work. To this end, there are four broad areas that can be explored: (1) meaning, (2) structure, (3) style, and (4) background and influences. There is usually overlapping amon
